Fire-resistant cladding plan was dropped for Grenfell Tower

Fire-resistant cladding plan was dropped for Grenfell Tower

A proposal to fit Grenfell Tower with fire-resistant cladding was dropped due to pressure from the Conservative council to cut the cost of refurbishment.
A cladding company provided a £3.3m quote to fit non-flammable aluminium panels to the 24 storey tower in West London at the request of Leadbitter, Kensington and Chelsea’s preferred contractor in 2013.
But a few months later the council decided Leadbitter wanted to spend too much on the refurbishment and put the contract out to tender to save £1.3m. It selected Rydon, which provided a lower price but fitted the building with combustible cladding which caught fire on 14 June 2017, killing 72 people in what lawyers for victims have called a “national atrocity”.
If the solid aluminium cladding had been chosen it would have almost certainly saved lives, fire safety experts said, and it could also have been cheaper. The council’s housing arm ended up agreeing to a budget which put the cost for the plastic-filled aluminium panels and synthetic insulation which burned so fiercely at £3.5m – £200,000 more than the quote for the non-combustible materials.
Peter Hillyard, the director of D+B Facades, said his company was asked to provide costs for solid aluminium sheets which do not spread flame, backed with mineral wool insulation which does not burn. He said the thought his company’s safer and cheaper system was not used sent “a shiver down my spine”.
Geoff Wilkinson, an independent fire safety expert, said that if D+B’s version was used it would have performed better in the fire.
“There would have been little or no fire spread, so the lives lost at Grenfell may have been prevented,” said Stephen Mackenzie, an independent fire safety consultant.
The emergence of the proposal will heighten scrutiny of the procurement decisions made by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenants Management Organisation (KCTMO), which managed the building, and the council, which owned it.
Scotland Yard detectives are investigating possible manslaughter and corporate manslaughter charges. They are also looking into “any failings of duty of care owed to victims of the fire”.
D+B’s system has passed the full-scale British Standard 8414 fire test. By contrast, Grenfell was clad in a combustible synthetic insulation, faced with aluminium composite panels that had a combustible polyethylene core. The system has since been shown to fail the fire test.
Researchers claim the panel system used for Grenfell had a calorific value equivalent to 12,000 litres of petrol, while the insulation foam added the equivalent of almost another 20,000 litres. The foam has also been shown to release cyanide gas when it burns and it is feared this may have contributed to the death toll.
There was sustained pressure from the council to cut costs on the project despite the authority being in “robust” financial health, according to accounts for 2014. It had £235m in usable reserves and had underspent its budget for services by £23m.

About Fire Buyer

International Fire Buyer is the leading authority in global passive and active fire content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the fire sector.

To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team below.

Chris Lingham image - Fire Buyer

Chris Lingham

Group Sales Manager

Afua Akoto picture - Fire Buyer

Afua Akoto

Marketing Manager

Read the Latest Issue

Follow us on X

Follow us on X

Click Here

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Click Here

Advertise here

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise here

Click Here

Related News

Picture of ROCKWOOL factiry - Photo by ROCKWOOL - Fire Buyer

ROCKWOOL Invests in Global Fire-Stopping Hub

Insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has launched a new global centre of excellence for fire-stopping at Hams Hall, on the outskirts of
Picture of firefighter wearing non-PFAS turnout gear - Photo by FIre-Dex - FIre Buyer

East Providence Firefighters Receive Non-PFAS Turnout Gear

The East Providence Fire Department has become the first in the United States to purchase and use non-PFAS turnout gear department-wide
Picture of forest fires - Photo by ECA - Fire Buyer

Press Briefing Reports on EU funding to tackle Forest Fires

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is to host an online press briefing on its upcoming special report on how EU money is used to tackle
Picture of Ben Pfahl - Photo by Fire-Dex - Fire Buyer

Fire-Dex Appoints New Chief Information Officer

Fire-Dex has announced the appointment of Ben Pfahl as its Chief Information Officer (CIO), putting weight behind its promise to lead with

Product Spotlight – FFE

Early, reliable fire detection is critical to protecting people, assets, and infrastructure in demanding settings – an evolving challenge

From the Expert – Stat-X

Ultrasense from Fireaway, a new generation of fire protection combines early anomaly detection and advanced aerosol suppression to

Feature Sponsor – IWMA

As fire safety technologies evolve, how do water mist systems compare to traditional sprinklers? New UK data sheds light on performance
Magazine - ask the expert - Bridging Standards

Ask the Expert – Sensitron

Marco Penso, R&D Manager at Sensitron, explores the evolving regulatory landscape, innovation challenges, and sustainability efforts shaping

Ask the Expert – F&G Detection

Eliot Sizeland, Vice President of Business Development at Fire & Gas Detection Technologies Inc., discusses the challenges of flame

Cover Story – Perimeter Solutions

Solberg Spartan offers safer, faster fire suppression—Kurt Becker of Perimeter Solutions explains how this foam is redefining frontline
Scroll to Top